Aviation Historian 15
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J.Franzi - Smile Please...! /An eye for detail/
Firefly FR.4 (c/n F8229) "005": Delivered 18.4.47, s/n "11-33"; assigned VSQ4, also served with VSQ2; serial revised 1950 to "16-33". Delivered VSQ7, Biak; serial revised 1959 to "005"; wfu Biak 15.12.61
Firefly FR.4 (c/n F8253) "009": Delivered 12.10.47, s/n "11-57"; assigned VSQ1, also served with VSQ2; serial revised 1950 to "16-57". Delivered VSQ7, Biak; serial revised 1959 to "009"; wfu Biak 15.12.61
Firefly FR.5 (c/n F8397) "015": Delivered 14.3.49, s/n "11-79"; assigned VSQ2; serial revised 1950 to "16-79". Delivered VSQ7, Biak; serial revised 1959 to "015"; wfu Biak 15.12.61
The three Marineluchtvaartdienst Fairey Fireflies adorned with shark-mouth markings are readied for flight on the occasion of the type’s retirement from Dutch Navy service at Borokoe, Biak, in December 1961.
Firefly FR.4 "010” in position as one of two gate guardians at the entrance to the Dutch Navy airfield at Borokoe on Biak. The other was a retired Consolidated Catalina previously on strength with VSQ321. Much of the apron area of Borokoe airfield consisted of bleached coral and was painfully bright under the equatorial sun.